Closing mechanism and the like.



W. V. GILBERT. CLOSING MECHANISM AND THE LIKE.

' APPLICATION FILED JUNE 10, 1911.

1,024,987. Patented Apr. 30, 1912.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

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W. V. GILBERT.

I GLOSING MECHANISM AND THE LIKE,

APPLICATION FILED mm: 10, 1911 1,024,987, I I I Patented Apr. 30, 1912.

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CLOSING MECHANISM AND THE LIKE. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 10, 1911.

6 SHEETSSHBET s.

w I I Patented Apr. 30, 1912.

COLUMBIA PLANOKIRAPH c0., WASHINGTON. n. c.

W. V. GILBERT.

CLOSING MECHANISM AND THE LIKE.

APPLIOATION FILED JUNE 10, 1911.

11,024,987, Patented, Apr.'30, 1912.

6 SHEETS SHBET 4.

COLUMBIA PLANocnAPu 60.,WASMNG10N, o. c.

W. V. GILBERT.

MECHANISM AND THE LIKE.

ATION FILED JUNE 10, 1911.

Patented Apr..30, 1912.

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CLOSING V rrmo [liar WW 65M;

5%? (fa 4w W. v. GILBERT. CLOSING MECHANISM AND THE LIKE.

APPLIOATION IILED JUNE 10, 1911. 1,024,987. Patented Apr. 30, 1912..

6 SHEETS-SHEET 6. I

jiwmiar fllz'orizeyd To all whom it may concern:

WALTER VILLA GILBERT; OF LONDON, ENGLAND.

CLOSING MECHANISM AND THE LIKE.-

Be it known that I, WVALTER VILLA GIL- BERT, a subject of the King of Great Britain and Ireland, and a resident of London, England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in. Closing Mechanism and the Like; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same.

This invention relates to improvements 111 means for transforming movement in one plane into movement in a plane lying at an angle to the first, suitable as breech closing mechanism for guns, but also suitable for other purposes, comprising a member adapted to turn in one plane and supported by a turnable carrier, a second member adapted to turn in a plane at an angle to the first, a link, and articulative means connecting the ends of the link respectively to the first and second members.

' The invention has for its object to enable the mechanism to be made with considerable range of relative movement of the parts and of a practical and substantial construction, and to enable an improved action to be obtained, and particularly consists in the improved manner of connecting the link to the first and second members, as hereinafter described. a

In carrying out the invention, as applied, by way of example, to closing mechanism, the latter is constructed with a member (herein called a carrier) mounted on the gun or other device so as to turn clear of the opening in the device, a member (herein called a breech-screw or a closing-piece) adapted to obstruct the opening in the device and mounted on the carrier so as to turn in a plane at an angle to the plane in which the carrier turns, a member (herein called a lever) mounted on the device or the carrier so as to turn in a plane at an angle to the plane in which the closingpiece turns, a link, and articulative means connecting one end of the link to the lever at some distance from its fulcrum and connectingthe other end of the link to the closing-piece at some distance from its axis, the articulative connection at at least one end of the link being so constructed as to permit of tri-axial movement, without the use of ball-and-socket-joints, and the articulativeconnection at one end of the link preferably being so constructed as to permit of bi-axial movement only. By these means Specification of Il'ietters Patent. Application filed June 10, ion.

Patented Apr. 30, 1912. Serial No. 632,402.

continuous turning of the lever in one direction 1 s caused, firstly, to unscrew the clos- =1ng-p1ece by turning it in one plane, and

:is caused, secondly, to withdraw the closfing-piece axially from the opening in the device and to swing the closing-piece laterally clear of the opening by turning the carfrier in another plane, and continuous turning of the lever in the opposite direction is another, it will be obvious that the turnable @carrier may be omitted, the link being con- ;nected in the manner ust described.

Various modifications and applications of the invention are illustrated, by way of example, in the accompanying drawings, in -.which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the mouth .of a receptacle of any kind adapted with closing-means according to the invention. showing the parts closed; Fig. 2 is a similar view, showing the parts in the position they occupy when the lever has been actuated to turn the closing-piece sufficiently to disengage the screw-threads and free it to enable it to be withdrawn axially from the mouth of the receptacle, the link being repthe carrier on which the closing-piece is fmounted sufficiently to withdraw the latter axially and swing it laterally clear of the fmouth of the receptacle to an angle of 90, but it might be swung laterally to .a greater angle; Fig. 4: is a plan of Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is a sectional plan on 55, Fig. 2, parts being shown in" dotted lines; Fig. 6 is a sectional elevation on 6-6, Fig. 4; Fig. 7

is a similar view to Fig. 1, but looking from the opposite side-of the receptacle; Fig. 8 is a top plan of the mouth of the receptacle, showing the interrupted screw threads of known construction; Fig. 9 is a sectional elevation, on 99, Fig. 5, of a stop for interlocking the closing-piece in relation to the carrier when unscrewed; Fig. 10 is a rear elevation of a gun, parts being shown in section, adapted with closing-means according to the invention, showing the same closed; Fig. 11 is a plan, partly in section, on 11, Fig. 10; Fig. 12 is an elevation, on an enlarged scale, of a detail represented in caused to restore the parts to their closed 13081131011. In some cases where it 1s desired jto transform movement from one plane to Fig. 10; Fig. 13 is a plan thereof; Fig. 14L is a transverse section on 14-14, Fig. 12; Fig. 15 is an inner elevation, partly in section, of a ships port-hole adapted with the improved closing means, showing the same closed; Fig. 16 is a section on 16-16, Fig. 15.

Like reference letters indicate like or equivalent parts wherever repeated in the drawings.

Referring to the drawings, 0, represents the mouth of a receptacle of any kind, the breech of a gun, the port-hole of a shi or other device. A carrier, 6, is mounted on the receptacle, the gun, the hull of the ship, or other device, a, on an axis-pin 5 so as to turn clear of the opening in the device, a. A closing-piece, 0, adapted to obstruct the opening in the device, a, is mounted on the carrier, on an axis, 12 so as to turn in a plane at an angle to the plane in which the carrier turns. The closingpiece'may be formed or provided with a flange, c suitably faced at its inner side, 0 for making tight contact with the suitably faced outer end, a of the device, a. Interrupted-screw-threads, 0 (Figs. 3 and 6, and 11), or cam-surfaces, 0*, (Figs. 15 and 16) are provided on the closing-piece for engagement with complementary screwthreads, M, or cam-surfaces, of, on the device, a, so that when the closing-piece is turned sufiiciently on its axis, 5 it is free to be swung axially and laterally clear of the opening in the device, a.

The closing-piece may be mounted with facility of axial movement in relation to the carrier to accommodate the screwing action of the closing-piece in relation to the carrier. This may be attained by mounting the closing-piece on a plain axis, Z), on the carrier (Fig. 6), or on a screwed axis, 79*, on the carrier (Fig. 11). Or, the closingpiece may be prevented from axial move ment in relation to the carrier. This may be attained by mounting the closing-piece between opposing parts, 6 on the carrier (Fig. 16). Stops, 0 6 (Figs. 1 to 6, and 15), or equivalent means, are provided, preferably on the closing-piece and on the carrier, to limit the extent of unscrewing movement of the former in relation to the latter. A stop, 6 or equivalent device, is provided, preferably on the carrier, adapted to co-act with an inclined-way, c ending in a depression, 0 in the flange, 0 of the closing-piece, or to otherwise co-act with the closing-piece, for locking the latter to the carrier when unscrewed (Figs. 4 and 9). In Fig. 11, the screw-threaded axis, 7), causes the closing-piece, c, to be held against the carrier, at 6 when the closing-piece is unscrewed.

A lever, (Z, having a handle, Cl is turn-.

ably'mounted on the device or the carrier,

preferably, co-axially with the axis, 5 of the carrier (Figs. 1 to 8), or on an axis, 6?, parallel to the axis, 5 (Figs. 10 and 11, and 15), so as to turn in a plane at an angle to the plane in which the closing-piece turns. Auxiliary guides 71, (Fig. 5), integral with or connected to the carrier, 0, or otherwise suitably mounted may be provided to aid in controlling the lever during the earlypart of its turning movement. A guard or flange, 6, may be provided on the lever to prevent access of foreign matter between the guides and the lever when closed. A link, 6, is

connected by suitable articulative means, as

at f, at one end to the lever at some distance from its fulcrum, (Figs. 1 to 7), or d (Figs. 10 and 11, and 15), preferably at its end to which the actuating force is applied, and by suitable articulative means, as at 9 (Figs. 4 and 7, 10 and 12 to 14, and 15), at the other end to the closing-piece at some distance from its axis, 6*. The lever and link are preferably arranged so that from the point where the link connects to the closing-piece, the link extends away from and so as not to approach the levers fulcrum. Further, the point of connection of the link to the closing piece is preferably arranged so as to move away from the levers fulcrum when the lever is turned away from the closing piece. The articulative connection at one end, as at f, preferably only permits of bi-axial movement, f represents one axis, and f the other, which permit of movement. The articulative connection at at least one end, as at must permit of tri-axial movement. 9 represents one axis, 9 a second, and g a third, which permit of movement.

The described construction of articulative means are of advantage in being adapted to be made with facility of an increased range of relative movement of the parts and of a practical and substantial construction, which is not the case with a ball-and-socket-joint.

The manner of connecting the link to the lever and the closing-piece is a characteristic feature of the invention, and the articulative means must be of such a construction as to permit the link during part or the whole of its movement to assume different angular relations to the plane in which the lever turns.

In the operation of the mechanism :To open the closing-piece, 0, the lever, d, is turned about its fulcrum away from the device. This has the eifect of causing the link, 6, to act on the closing-piece so as to unscrew the latter. As soon as the closingpiece is sufliciently turned to disengage the screw-threads or cam-surfaces and free the closing-piece, the stops, or equivalent means, prevent further unscrewing of the closing piece and interlock it and the carrier (Fig. 2). Continued turning of the lever about its fulcrum has the effect, through the link, of turning the carrier bodily about the axis, 6 and of thereby withdrawing the closingpiece clear of the opening in the part, a (Fig. 3) ready for immediate closing upon reversely turning the lever.

In their normal or closed position, when the closing-piece is screwed home,the lever and the link are preferably adapted to lie in the same plane or at dead-center (Fig: 7), so that a secure locking is insured as by a completely extended toggle. In some cases, it may be arranged that, in their normal or closed position, the lever and the link lie just beyond the dead-center, so that if any force other than that due to proper actuation of the device tends to unscrew the closing-piece it causes the link to retain the lever in the closed position against the device, a.

The distance between the articulative connections at the ends of thelink is preferably less than the distance between the articulative connection of the link to the lever, and the levers fulcrum.

In some cases, the lever or link may be made readily di connectible from the other parts of the closing mechanism, to render the latter inoperative when desired or prevent it from being tampered with.

A flange, (4 which may be recessed as at a (Fig. 6), may be provided around the opening of the device, a, for receiving packing, or, in the case of a gun, an obturator, adapted to be compressed by the closingpiece, or breech-screw, 0, when screwed home.

In some cases, pins or other locking means may be provided to secure the parts in their closed position. For example, the articulative connection, at g, and the adjacent end of the link, 6, may have holes, 7', adapted to register when the mechanism is closed, so as to permit the insertion of a locking pin or the like.

In certain cases, the rotary movement of the closing-piece, a, may be adapted to cover or uncover draft or ventilating apertures in an adjacent grid or grille, as when applied to a furnace door.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In means for transforming movement from one plane to another, in combination, a member adapted to turn in one plane, a lever adapted to turn in a plane at an angle to the plane in which the first member turns, a link, and articulative means connecting the link to the lever and the first member, the articulative means comprising a joint with three axes of movement, and the articulative connection of the link to the lever being situated at the end of the latter to which the actuating force is applied, substantially as described.

2. In means-for transforming movement from one plane to another, in combination,

a member adapted to turn'in one plane, a

lever adapted to turn in a plane at an angle .to the plane in which the first member turns,

with three axes of movement, and the link,

from the point where it connects to the first member, extending away from and so as not to approach the levers fulcrum, substantially as described.

8. In means for transforming movement from one plane to another, in combination, a member adapted to turn in one plane, a lever adapted to turn in a plane at an angle to the plane in which the first member turns, a link, and articulative means connecting the link to the lever and the first member, the articulative means comprising a joint with three axes of movement, and the point of connection of the link to the first member being arranged so as to move away from the levers fulcrum when the lever is turned away from the first member, substantially as described.

4. A device having an opening therein, and means for closing the opening comprising in combination, a turnable carrier, a closing piece mounted on the carrier and adapted to turn in a plane at an angle to the plane in which the carrier turns, coacting locking parts on the closing piece and on the device, a lever mounted so as to turn in a plane at an angle to the plane in which the closing piece turns, a link, and suitable articulative means connecting the ends of the link to the lever and the closing piece, the articulative connection of the link to the lever being situated at the end of the latter to which the actuating force is applied, substantially as described.

5. A device having an opening therein, and means for closing the opening comprising, in combination, a turnable carrier, a closing piece mounted on the carrier and adapted to turn in a plane at an angle to the plane in which the carrier turns, co-acting locking parts on the closing piece and on the device, a lever mounted so as to turn in a plane at an angle to the plane in which the closing piece turns, a link, and suitable articulative means connecting the ends of the link to the lever and the closing piece, the link from the point where it connects to the closing piece extending away from and so as not to approach the levers fulcrum, substantially as described.

6. A device having an opening therein, and means for closing the opening comprising, in combination, a turnable carrier, a closing piece mounted on the carrier and adapted to turn in a plane at an angle to the plane in which the carrier turns, oo-

; articulative means connecting the ends of the link to the lever and the closing piece,

WALTER VILLA GILBERT.

Witnesses ALFRED DAY, WALTER DAY.

acting locking parts on the closing piece and on the device, a lever mounted so as to turn in a plane at an angle to the plane in which the closing piece turns, a link, and suitable the point of connection of the link to the closlng piece belng arranged so as to move away from the levers fulcrum when the Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

